41,000 light vehicles enter Colombo every morning

14 February 2013 04:54 am - 28 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Police Headquarters said yesterday that 41,000 light vehicles entered Colombo on Tuesday, when they conducted a census on all light vehicles entering the Colombo city to find ways of reducing traffic in the city.

The process also caused heavy traffic congestions in most areas in Colombo and its suburbs as survey forms were given to owners of light vehicles, police said. The census was conducted on Tuesday from 6.00am to 9.00am.

They collected the same number of filled out forms yesterday from all light vehicles in the same time period.

The forms handed over by police to the drivers of light vehicles required to be mentioned the time they entered and left Colombo, how many passengers in the vehicle, the routes taken both ways, the place of parking and the place and address of work.

They noted that they first wanted a count of all light vehicles to prepare themselves with alternatives to face traffic congestion; they had even drafted several proposals.

More than 500 traffic policemen were deployed yesterday to distribute the forms amongst the light vehicles reaching Colombo and they were mostly stationed for duty at entry points to Colombo.

Heavy traffic congestion prevails during school-opening hours especially between 7.30am- 8.30am followed by office traffic between 8.00am and 9.00am.

In the afternoons and evenings the same sort of traffic congestion is witnessed between 1.30pm-2.30pm and 5.00pm- 8.00pm for the same reasons.

Police Headquarters said they had been asked to come up with alternatives to ease the increasing traffic. The one way traffic system is highly successful according to police and several proposals have been drafted to develop new roads connecting Colombo. (Supun Dias)

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Comments - 28

raj Thursday, 14 February 2013 07:14 AM

"extend r a de mel mawatha from dharmarama road and connect it to hampdon lane for the traffic to flow towards dehiwela"
Will you say this if your house has to be broken for the road?

ranjith Monday, 18 February 2013 06:53 AM

oya mokadadannawada karanna hadanne?kolambta athulvena sahllu vahana walin gaanak ganna.dan labena gaana aasanna vsayen hadagthakine.

raa one Friday, 15 February 2013 12:00 AM

We should change the shoe, but we are trying to trim our foot. We are growing! via DM Android App

Ravi Friday, 15 February 2013 10:30 AM

Good point, heavy good vehicle should be allowed during morning peak hours.

Ravi Friday, 15 February 2013 10:25 AM

Some of these are not practical due culture, politics, mind set of people. Ban trishaws - Not a progressive plan, where are you going to find employment for those depending on that?

I think the transport department is taking some measure such as introducing test for every vehicle. A good step to ensure worthy vehicles are on road.

Infrastructure is an issue, which need huge investment, roads, rail way, drainage, water supply, these need to improve.

Other option is create another city, perhaps Hambanthota is best as it has a airport and harbour, which will reduced burden on Colombo.

dd Friday, 15 February 2013 12:31 AM

why should everyone live in colombo?Move to the fresh air and the beautiful city of Hambantota.Isnt hambantota part of Sri lanka?

Pramiya Friday, 15 February 2013 12:00 AM

wow how accurate.no depth or accuracy. via DM Android App

Driver Thursday, 14 February 2013 12:00 AM

75% of the traffic could be reduced if people drive their vehicles fast without blocking the lanes. Daily I pass so many people and specially ladies who drive their cars like tractors-funny thing is they don't even move when you horn or signal. Pls everyone if you cant drive properly get a driver or go by bus.Don't waste our time and fuel. via DM Android App

lonawala Thursday, 14 February 2013 11:32 AM

Indian ashokleyland buses occupy entire roads of srilanka, what about the performance?

#BUSHAYYA# Thursday, 14 February 2013 10:44 AM

ayyo me okkoma comment karapu aya modayo , subway ekak danna

lanka Thursday, 14 February 2013 09:34 AM

container trucks should allow after 10 pm then see the different

SAM Thursday, 14 February 2013 09:31 AM

this is not work - wasting of time

Anil Thursday, 14 February 2013 07:14 AM

Wonder how long it will take the Police to scientifically analyse the data and come up with a plan.

chamantha Thursday, 14 February 2013 05:26 AM

The new traffic plan will be "all the light vehicles ban from entering the city except MPs ,ministers and their bodyguards."

Uneducated Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:59 AM

comment on the points not the pointer.......... typical sri lankan ...... malle poll

Smi Thursday, 14 February 2013 07:02 AM

Weday hari.........brilliant plan.

Herculese Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:59 AM

Reduce no of traffic officers who create traffic Jams purposely.
halt all three wheelers from 7 to 8.30 a.m.

IHM Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:43 AM

Vehicles 41000
Enter Fee (Minimum ) 100.00
No of days - Per month (5 Days * 4 Weeks) 20
Revenue 82,000,000.00

Good Money ....

POOR citizen Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:32 AM

soon to be imposed: Colombo Metro Tax (CMT)

we need ring roads. this will allow vehicles (for example from Maharagama going to paliyagoda) travel around colombo instead of through it.
ban trishaws. they never follow traffic rules and always plug themselves in gaps and cause major havoc.
prohibit buses from using middle lanes. and prohibit light vehicles from using bus lanes.

these will ease some of the issues

smii Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:35 AM

Simple the census was done to evaluate the number of light vehicles and now they will impose a toll for entering the city - the Government needs money and this is a plan to get some
funds....easy cheesy..................

Trehan Munasinghe Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:35 AM

My thoughts...

1./ Improve the number of good buses (A/C) in Colombo... and towns closest to the city.

2./ Start importing small coaches and run it during particular hours. (On Time) remove these huge buses from the city and have those only for out station routes.

3./ Give incentives for people to car pool.

4./ Reduce 3wheelers and Private owned buses... (Long Term) Private buses should come under a state monitoring body, that will ensure they don't drive like idiots.

5./ Introduce a City Rail network (Huge investment) but the saving will be long term.

6./ At intersections ensure the traffic lights change properly giving time for those in the middle of the road to get to the other-side , before the next lane traffic enters...

slc Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:31 AM

make galle road one way from col 06 all the way to galle face.
extend r a de mel mawatha from dharmarama road and connect it to hampdon lane for the trafic to flow towards dehiwela.

Introduce hefty fines for parking on galle road except at designated areas.

Mark the lanes on all road properly and please put up cats eye at zebra crossings with traffic signals (ensuring it works at all times) for every zebra along the one way streets.

introduce toll system to marine drive (n e ways its the well to do have cars here, so it is ok to have tolls on certain streets)

Implement bus can travel only on 1st and 2nd lane.

Kodithuwakkuarachchi Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:21 AM

Dear uneducated, please keep your voice low.

If our learned politicians hear your complains they will just jump tot the easiest solution for the problem: increase import taxes of vehicles and increase price of fuel.

Hmmm... Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:16 AM

So you want move to Hambantota?

Miracle Child Thursday, 14 February 2013 06:03 AM

seems like 'Uneducated' is educated..

Muheed Jeeran Thursday, 14 February 2013 05:57 AM

Looks like Government is going to introducing the congestion charge by creating a Congestion Charge Zone in Colombo Area..

Uneducated Thursday, 14 February 2013 05:29 AM

so whats next? this is what you should do

ban the import of further trishaws
ban the import of large viking buses on the road, which are twice the size of two lanes
have a urban train system running through the town and encourage all to use it
have more a/c buses on the road
bring down all illegal construction which have borrowed some parts of municipal land and make the roads wider

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41,000 light vehicles enter Colombo every morning

Comments - 28

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